The goal of this project is to investigate ways in which new and
emerging technologies, such as multimedia laptop computers and wireless
networking, can be used to improve teaching in the classroom.
In particular, we are developing a wireless classroom environment in
which each student is equipped with a laptop computer and
a wireless network connection to the Internet. We are investigating
the technical challenges of developing this environment. We are also
exploring and developing new teaching techniques that use the
environment to enhance the educational process.

During the second quarter of the grant period the hardware environment
has been fully deployed and debugged. Specifically, each of the 20 laptops
has been configured to run both Windows '95 and Linux, with appropriate
software compiled and installed for each platform.
The wireless network interface (PCMCIA cards) for each laptop has been
configured to run under either operating system.
The wireless network is now completely installed, debugged, and
thoroughly stress tested. The wireless network covers the
classrooms in Anderson Hall as well as the conference
rooms and labs in CRMS and ASTeCC. The wireless network has been used
daily for the last two months, and we have had no problems with the
network after the initial set of bugs were found and eliminated.
Thus, the mobile classroom can be deployed from the mobile storage cart in
a matter of minutes in any classroom, lab, or conference room covered
by the wireless network.

Each of the three Principal Investigators has been using the environment
in our daily lecture periods with class sizes of up to 40 students.
We now have the software and hardware environment configured so that
laptop setup and usage is straightforward and can be quickly learned
by students at any level in our program (i.e., they don't need to be a
computer expert to participate in the class and benefit from the
laptops).
A typical class period begins with the students picking up their
assigned laptop from the mobile storage cart, installing the wireless
antenna, booting the system, and then joining the advertised
interactive class session.

The instructor laptops are now fully operational and include
video (QuickCam) and audio hardware as well as presentation tools. In
addition, each instructor machine is equipped with a tablet and stylus
(Wacom) which provide the ability to write free-hand notes on top of
previously prepared material. The laptops also connect to a portable
overhead projection device that displays the instructor's screen.

Live/interactive transmission of class materials for the session
requires the appropriate software tools to send and receive data
across the network.
We are evaluating two primary software environments for this task:
the freely-available MBONE tools (whiteboard, vic, vat, etc.) available for
UNIX and Windows '95, and the
commercially-available distance learning server for Windows by
Databeam.
We have been using the MBONE tools during class with great success for
quite some time and are about to begin testing the Databeam
distance-learning software.

The MBONE tools provide multicasting capability of video, audio and
whiteboard information.
The live video and audio streams are multicast across the wireless
network to the Internet, reaching students in distant sites across
campus and have even been viewed live by students at other
universities.
The collaborative whiteboard and network text packages provided
with the MBONE tools have been successfully use to efficiently
multicast instructor notes and free-hand notes written during class.
The whiteboard application allows course notes, which have been
preformatted as postscript pages, to be typeset and displayed on each
student machine. The instructor can then dynamically write on the notes
using the Wacom pad and stylus.
As the whiteboard sessions progress through the course material,
students have the ability to annotate the notes on their personal pages
to be saved for review later.
In addition, the entire session is recorded and stored for the purpose
of future playback and review.

Other network tools have also been successfully used to enhance class
presentations. For example, we have used video clips and animations
to demonstrate algorithms and network protocols. Pictures and images
viewed via web browsers have also proven useful to illustrate topics
being discussed. We have also written a collaborative web browsing
application that uses multicast communication to support collaborative
web browsing.

On-line demonstrations have also been used during class and have
proven very helpful. Students are able to download programs and
modify/test them during class. In the networking class, students
examined network routing tables, ARP caches, etc as the topics were
being discussed. Pointers to interesting URLs mentioned during class
were often investigated immediately by students.

In summary, the hardware and software environment is now operational,
appears to be quite stable, and is being used on a daily basis in
class lectures with success.

We plan to continue the evaluation of the effectiveness of the
environment by monitoring student progress, students' satisfaction
with the technology, and the capabilities of the software environment
to prepare, present and deliver the data across the network during
learning sessions. This process has already lead to changes in our
teaching style and will certainly produce other new techniques and methods
for delivering education.

There have been no significant changes in scope or direction.
The hardware platform is operational and is being evaluated during
several real class periods each week.
We are continuing to evaluate hardware performance and suitability,
software alternatives and usability, and new teaching techniques to
improve the quality of instruction in the testbed environment.

The only change in the budget has been the purchase of several
critical software packages to aid in the preparation and presentation
of lecture materials.
The money for the software (totalling approximately $800) was
reallocated from savings on hardware purchases.